[vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” bg_color=”#ffffff” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”80″ class=”main-content-blog” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]There is always one Thursday in November that we all look forward to – Thanksgiving! This year, Thanksgiving falls slightly later the calendar, making it a perfect way to finish the end of the month before we move into December.
As a professional driver it isn’t uncommon to work through some holidays, especially those that fall in the middle of the week like Thanksgiving does every year. We understand that any holiday away from your loved ones can be difficult, but as a driver, please know we are very thankful for you![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Transporting the Turkeys
It is estimated that Americans consume about 51 million turkeys every Thanksgiving which equals about 17,000 truckloads of turkey being transported. Besides turkey, drivers also deliver many items that serve as sides or are ingredients in our favorite side dishes. This year it is estimated that there will be 80 million pounds of cranberries (this includes about 5 million gallons of canned cranberry sauce), 2.5 billion pounds of sweet potatoes and 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins transported across the U.S. waiting to be put onto your plate.
While Witte Bros. primarily transports food products, there are plenty of drivers out there who need to be thanked for their hard work in ensuring the Thanksgiving holiday is successful in non-food ways. That’s right, we’re talking about Black Friday! How else would everything we shop for be delivered if it wasn’t for all the professional drivers who are out working hard? Especially those who may have to drive ON Thanksgiving to ensure products are on the shelves by the time Black Friday shopping madness begins.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Handling Thanksgiving OTR
We know that for many of you, it might be difficult for you to make it home for Thanksgiving or even be home in time at all but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a delicious Thanksgiving meal!
Here are a few places offering a free meal for you on Thanksgiving. Keep in mind most of these places to ask you show some form of ID like showing your valid CDL.
- Boise Stage Stop off Interstate 84 (23801 S. Orchard Access Rd. Boise, ID 83716)
- Greater Chicago I-55 Truck Plaza open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (510 South Bolingbrook Drive Bolingbrook, Illinois)
- The Cowboy Café at Exit 41 off Interstate 80 in Lyman, Wyoming
Charlie Clark with 4 State Trucks in Joplin, Missouri will be cooking up a fresh dinner from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (4579 MO-43, Joplin, Missouri 64804). He will also be happy to deliver a warm meal to any drivers in the area who may be stuck at a shipper/receiver.
If you are on Facebook, Meals for 18 Wheels is an online network of volunteers making sure professional drivers have full bellies during Thanksgiving. Be sure to check out their Facebook page for information on how to sign-up to receive a free meal wherever you may be on Thanksgiving.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Thanksgiving Traffic
Traffic is another huge part of Thanksgiving we tend to forget about. As a driver, your safety and the safety of others on the road is always of utmost importance, this Thanksgiving is no different.
AAA’s travel forecast predicts there will be more than 55 million travelers who are planning trips of over 50 miles or more away from home this year for Thanksgiving, most of these travels by car. They expect this year’s Thanksgiving to be the second-highest travel volume since 2005.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Ultimately, we all know Thanksgiving is all about recognizing what you are grateful for. Even though you may be working or driving over Thanksgiving, there are plenty of ways to make you feel right at home while you are busy making Thanksgiving possible for the rest of us.
Our Thanksgiving feasts and Black Friday shopping would not be possible without you! We are beyond thankful for hard-working professional drivers like you who make all of it possible for us back home.[/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” url=”https://www.facebook.com/wittebros/” text=”Like Us On Facebook!” margin_top=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
